Portugal NIF for Germans: How to Get It, What It Costs (€39.99)

TL;DR / Quick Answer: Germans can get a Portuguese NIF fully online without travelling. You need two documents (passport + proof of address) and, in practice, a Portugal-based fiscal representative to submit the application remotely. At Coepi the service costs a flat €39.99 including VAT, one time, with fiscal representation for the application included and no recurring fees. Finanças typically issues the NIF within 7–14 business days. If you are already in Portugal, you can apply in person at a Finanças office for free, and our DIY guide walks you through it.

Why do Germans need a Portuguese NIF?

The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is Portugal's 9-digit tax identification number, issued by the Portuguese Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira). You need it for almost everything in Portugal: opening a bank account, renting or buying property, signing an employment or freelance contract, setting up utilities, and applying for residency or visas. For a full overview, see what a NIF is and why you need one.

Pitfall #1: Your German Steuer-ID is not a NIF

A common misunderstanding: the German Steueridentifikationsnummer (Steuer-ID) and the Portuguese NIF are completely separate numbers from different tax authorities. Your Steuer-ID has no function in Portugal, and your NIF has no function in Germany. If a Portuguese bank, landlord or consulate asks for your "tax number" in the Portuguese context, they mean the NIF. You have to apply for it separately.

How do you get a NIF from Germany?

Two routes:

In person in Portugal: free. If you walk into a Finanças office or a Loja do Cidadão, the NIF is issued free of charge. You need to be in Portugal, usually book an appointment in advance, and handle the process in Portuguese. Our free DIY NIF guide covers the appointment, the forms and what to bring.
Online from Germany, via a fiscal representative. If you are not in Portugal, you cannot file the application at a Finanças counter yourself. Online services submit the application through a Portugal-based fiscal representative with a power of attorney you sign online. With Coepi you upload your passport and a proof of address from Germany (a recent utility bill, bank statement or Meldebescheinigung), e-sign the power of attorney, and receive the official NIF document as a PDF by email.

What does it cost?

Online NIF services charge anywhere from about €40 to €150+, and many bundle a year of fiscal representation that auto-renews annually. At Coepi the price is a flat €39.99 including VAT, one time: application handling, document verification by our legal team, and fiscal representation for the application are included. There is no recurring fee. The full breakdown is on our pricing page, and our date-stamped NIF price comparison shows how the named providers compare.

Do Germans need a fiscal representative?

Legally, no, not as a long-term obligation. Under Article 19(8) of the Lei Geral Tributária, residents of EU member states are exempt: appointing a fiscal representative is always optional for EU/EEA residents, and that includes Germans. The representative requirement you read about online targets residents outside the EU/EEA.

In practice, however, the remote application itself goes through a representative: Coepi acts as your fiscal representative for the application, submits it through the official channels, and that's the end of it. No yearly renewal. The legal detail, including the 2022 electronic-notifications exemption (Decreto-Lei 44/2022), is in our fiscal representative guide.

After you move to Portugal: once you register a Portuguese fiscal address, the non-resident representation rules stop applying entirely. Update your address on the Portal das Finanças when you move. Our guide on updating your NIF address shows how.

NIF first, then the visa: D7, D8 and the Auswanderer context

If you are planning a move to Portugal, whether on a D7 (passive income), a D8 (digital nomad) visa, or a classic Auswanderung, the NIF is typically one of the very first documents you need, because visa applications, bank accounts and rental contracts all build on it. You do not need a visa first; the NIF comes before it. Details in our guide to the NIF for D7 and D8 visa applications.

Pitfall #2: The Portal das Finanças password comes by post

Your login password for the Portal das Finanças is never sent by email. It is posted by CTT to the fiscal address registered against your NIF, officially in about 5 working days, often closer to 2 weeks. If your registered address is wrong, the letter is lost, so keep your fiscal address current. The full process is in our Portal das Finanças password guide.

The bottom line for Germans

Your German Steuer-ID does not replace the NIF. Apply for the NIF separately.
In Portugal? Do it yourself for free with our DIY guide.
In Germany? Get your NIF online for €39.99 all-in, fiscal representation for the application included, no recurring fees.
As an EU citizen you never need a long-term fiscal representative. Don't let anyone sell you one.

Prices checked September 2026. Competitor pricing can change; check each provider's site for current rates. This guide is informational and does not constitute legal or tax advice.